Like many very small credit unions, UWFCU has been struggling financially over the last five years.

In addition to declines in loan, fee and investment income from 2008 to 2012, the cooperative has posted total net income loss of $366,147 in the same time period, according to NCUA financial performance reports.

“We have combated many challenges through the years to offset the economic impact we all are dealing with, however, shrinking margins have made it very challenging in serving our membership’s need,” Walt Reeder, former board president of UWFCU, and Christina Boyd, former president/CEO of UWFCU, wrote in a joint letter to members.

Members approved the merger in June.

UWFCU was chartered in 1956 as the Butchers Credit Union to serve the financial needs of Butchers Local #120, and later opened its membership to the United Food & Commercial Workers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Though UWFCU’s sole location closed Sept. 30, UWFCU members now have access to OE Federal’s 22- branch network in five states, along with its participation in shared branches and more than 60,000 ATMs nationwide, the credit unions said.